Collapsible chamber pump with rotary compress



March 9, 1954 H. J. RAND 2,671,412

COLLAPSIBLE CHAMBER PUMP WITH ROTARY COMPRESS- Filed Sept. 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 L lid. 24 M 4% l4 llb 3 INVENTQR. HENRY J. RAND ATTORNEY S H. J. RAND March 9, 1954 COLLAPSIBLE CHAMBER PUMP WITH ROTARY COMPRESS Filed Sept. 2, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

HENRY J. RAND M J $4 W ATTORNEYSM Patented Mar. 9, 1954 COLLAPSIBLE CHAMBER PUMP WITH ROTARY COMPRESS Henryl; RamLBratenahl, Ohio, assignor to Flex.-

ible Pumps, Inc, Bratenahl, Ohio, a corpora.

tion of v Ohio Application September 2, 1948, Serial No. 47,395

3 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a pump of the type which uses a. diaphragm as the fluid driving element.

An object of the invention is to provide a pump having a diaphragm adapted to be intermittently seated in a registering annular groove, by rotatable abutment means such as cams or rollers passing over the diaphragm whereby to provide suction and discharge at a properly arranged fluid inlet and outlet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved pump with a flexible diaphragm which cooperates with a mating groove and rotatable abutment means to produce a pumping action.

Other objects of the invention include the provision of annular pumping chamber grooves of various cross-sectional shape to produce the results desired, various cooperating diaphragm shapes, various types of partition means to separate the fluid inlet and outlet, various means for progressively causing the diaphragm to press into the annular groove in a pumping cycle, means for reducing friction, and abrasion and other improvements as will appear as the description proceeds.

Other objects and advantages. of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and specificationandthe essential featuresthereof will be set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a central vertical sectional view onthe line I-I ofFig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line- 2-2- of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional-view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a central vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modification;

Fig. 6 is a central vertical sectional view on the line Ii6 of Fig. 7 showing another modification;

Fig. '7 is a side elevational view from the right of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the line 88 of Fig. 6; while Fig. 9 is a central vertical sectional view similar to Figs. 1, 5, and 6, but showing another modification;

Fig. 10 is a modification of Fig. 4 showing the partition carried by the pump body.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, I have shown a pump body It! which carries a diaphragm II. The periphery Ila of diaphragm II is securely clamped to the pump body Illby-the clamping ring I2, the ring I2 being secured to the-pump body by bolts (not shown).

A shaft I3 is mounted for rotational movement in the pump body III in a suitable bushing I4; while bearing I5 takes end thrust. Mountedon shaft I3 for rotational movement therewith is a cam arm I5 which carries rotatable abutment means such as the cams l1 and- I8 on its outer ends.

The central portion IIb of-the diaphragm II is securely clamped to thepump body IIlby the clamping block I9, securedby bolts or-screws-not shown. Intermediate the periphery IIaand the central portion III; of the diaphragm II is an annular projection No ofgenerally rectangular cross section and which is molded integral with the diaphragm II, the projection Ho and the walls of the annular groove IUa defining-apump chamber lb. The projection IIc isadapted to reciprocate (under the influence-of cams I! and I8) in an annular groove Iflain' the; pump body ID to produce a pumping action.

A seal or partition means for directing the pump chamber is provided at all times-between the fluid inlet 20 and the fluid'discharge 2| by an enlarged portion I Id of the annular projection I Ia which is interposed between the inlet 20 and the discharge 2I. The enlarged portion lldextends below the annular groove IOa and radially inwardly and outwardly of the groove ma, as shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 4.

It will now be apparent that as the shaftv I3 is rotated in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 2', carrying with it the cams I! and I8; the projection I I0 is forced :to thebottomof: the annular groove Illa by the. cams IT and H3. The dia-, phragm II isof rubber-like material so as. to provide considerable. resilienceand' flexibility as illustratedin Fig. 4.. The stable -position..of. the diaphragm lifts it away from the groove Illa. It will also be apparent that as the cam I I or I8 passes the discharge outlet 2| it will force the fluid out of the annular groove Illa and through the discharge 2|. As a cam passes over the diaphragm and groove, pushing the liquid ahead of the cam, the projection IIc rises after the cam has passed creating a suction causing inward flot at inlet 20.

A flexible wear plate 22 may be interposed between the cams I1 and I8 and the diaphragm II to reduce friction and prevent wear of the diaphragm.

The annular flange I9a. on the clamping block I9 overlies the diaphragm II to prevent the bead I I0 from being blown out of the groove IIIa by an excess of pressure. In other words, when the diaphragm engages Him, the bead He is still in the groove Illa.

A cap 23 is threaded on an extension I211. of the clamping ring I2 to provide an oil chamber 24 to properly lubricate the moving parts.

In the modification of Fig. 5, I have shown rollers 30 (only one being shown) replacing the cams l1 and I8 of Figs. 1 to 4. I have omitted the wear plate 22 of Figs. 1 to 4, although it will be obvious that the wear plate may also be used when using rollers 30.

Note that the thickness of roller 30, radially of the annular groove, is less than the width of the groove. This is for the purpose of more nearly equalizing the path of travel of the radially inner and outer edges of the roller. Otherwise the device of Fig. pumps like the device of Fig. 1, and like parts have been given like reference numbers.

In Figs. 6 to 8, I have shown a generally V- shaped groove 35, having slightly convex sides 35a, as I find the convex sides provide a better seal than do flat sides. The diaphragm 3 5 has a generally V-shaped annular portion 35a which registers with and coacts with the groove 35, while the rollers 37 also have V-shaped surfaces to conform to the upper face of diaphragm 36 when it is pressed in toward the groove. It will be noted in Fig. 6 that the groove has a rounded apex where the reference character 35 is applied; and the registering portion of the diaphragm has an apex, where the reference character 36a is applied, more acute than the apex of the groove. Clamping rings 38 and 39 securely hold the diaphragm to the pump body and a seal is provided between the fluid inlet 40 and fluid discharge 4! by the enlarged portion 35b of the diaphragm 36 similar in all respects to the enlarged portion I Id shown in Fig. 1. Other parts like Fig 1 are given similar reference numbers.

In Fig. 9, is shown a further modification wherein a flat diaphragm 42 is provided over an annular pump chamber groove 43 which is V- shape in section. One or more rotatable rollers 44 formed to press the diaphragm to the bottom of the groove, provide a pumping action similar to those previously described.

In Fig. 10, the partition means 45 between the fluid inlet and outlet is shown mounted in the pump body instead of being carried by the diaphragm. A spring 46 urges the partition into engagement with the diaphragm so that it always seals.

I claim:

1. In a pump of the character described, a pump body, an annular groove in one face of said body, a flexible diaphragm mounted on said body over said groove, said diaphragm and said groove walls defining a pump chamber, said groove being 4 substantially V-shapein cross-section, said diaphragm having a V-shape annular projection adapted to fit into said groove but normally spaced from said groove, rotatable abutment means engaging said diaphragm over a limited area to press a portion of said diaphragm into said groove, means for rotating said abutment means in a path approximately registering with said groove, a fluid inlet to said groove, a fluid outlet from said groove, and partition means dividing said pump chamber between said inlet and said outlet.

2. In a pump of the character described, a pump body, an annular groove in one face of said body, a flexible diaphragm mounted on said body over said groove, said diaphragm and said groove walls defining a pump chamber, said groove being substantially V-shape in cross-section and having a rounded apex, said diaphragm having an annular portion registering with said groove, said portion being of V-shape section whose surfaces diverge at approximately the same angle as the walls of the groove and the apex of said diaphragm V-shape section being more acute than the apex of the groove section, the apex of said diaphragm section being annular in form and adapted to fit into said groove but normally spaced from said groove, rotatable abutment means engag ng said diaphragm over a limited area to press a portion of said diaphragm into said groove, means for rotating said abutment means in a path approximatel registering with said groove, a fluid inlet to said groove, a fluid outlet from said groove, and partition means dividing said pump chamber between said inlet and said outlet.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said partition means is carried by said diaphragm, there being a recess in said body receiving said partition means, and the mutually engaging portions of said partition means and of said recess being of sufficient depth to remain in contact during movement of the V-shape annular projection of said diaphragm into and out of said groove.

HENRY J. RAND.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

